Patterned microwave susceptor

a microwave susceptor and microwave technology, applied in the field of microwave susceptors, can solve the problems of destroying the integrity of the susceptor, not browning or crisping the center of the conventional susceptor satisfactorily, etc., and achieve the effect of enhancing the heating effect of the conventional susceptor

Inactive Publication Date: 2006-06-29
GRAPHIC PACKAGING INT
View PDF24 Cites 16 Cited by
  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The susceptor achieves superior browning and crisping of pizza crusts by concentrating heat at the center, resulting in a browner crust with a thicker annular ring and improved energy distribution compared to conventional designs.

Problems solved by technology

However, it has been found that a conventional susceptor does not brown or crispen the center of the pizza satisfactorily when the pizza has a diameter from about 8 to 12 inches (about 20 to 30 cm).
However, providing apertures in the susceptor requires a separate step in the manufacture of the susceptor and produces chad that must be disposed of.
It also destroys the integrity of the susceptor, which forms part of the package for the pizza.

Method used

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
View more

Image

Smart Image Click on the blue labels to locate them in the text.
Viewing Examples
Smart Image
  • Patterned microwave susceptor
  • Patterned microwave susceptor
  • Patterned microwave susceptor

Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

Embodiment Construction

[0016] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a preferred embodiment of the improved susceptor comprises a layer of plastic film 10 on which is deposited, such as by vacuum deposition, a layer of metal 12, preferably aluminum. The thickness of the metal is such that is absorbs microwave radiation and converts the microwave energy into heat. The plastic film is preferably made from polyethylene terephthalate and preferably has a thickness of about 0.48 mil (about 12 microns). The metallized film is laminated to a layer of paperboard 14 using a conventional adhesive 16.

[0017] A pattern of forty-one circles 18 was formed in the metallized film by applying a chemical, such as sodium hydroxide, to inactivate the metal in each circle. The inactivated metal is substantially transparent to microwave radiation. The diameter of each circle was about 0.50 inch (about 1.3 cm). The inactivating chemical was also used to form a grid pattern 20 in the annular peripheral margin 22 of the susceptor.

[0018] The...

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
Login to View More

PUM

No PUM Login to View More

Abstract

The heating effect of a microwave susceptor can be improved by providing a pattern of microwave transparent areas in the susceptor. The transparent areas are preferably circles having a diameter of about 0.5 inch. The distance between adjacent circles is preferably about 0.5 inch. The susceptor may be used to brown and crispen the crust of frozen pizza heated in a microwave oven. The crust of the pizza is browner, especially at its central area, than the crust of pizza heated using a conventional susceptor.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a divisional of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 889,976, filed Jul. 12, 2004, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 119,540, filed Apr. 9, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,765,182, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 044,576, filed Mar. 19, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,414,290, each of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety as though fully set forth herein.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] This invention is a microwave susceptor having a pattern of microwave transparent areas that enhances the heating effect of the susceptor at its center. [0004] 2. Description of Related Art [0005] A microwave susceptor typically comprises a layer of metallized plastic film laminated to a dimensionally stable substrate, such as paperboard. The thickness of the metal is such that the metal absorbs microwave energy and convert...

Claims

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
Login to View More

Application Information

Patent Timeline
no application Login to View More
Patent Type & AuthorityApplications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): H05B6/80H05B6/74B65D81/34
CPCB65D81/3446B65D2581/3406B65D2581/344B65D2581/3467B65D2581/3472B65D2581/3494H05B6/6494
InventorCOLE, LORIN R.LAFFERTY, TERRENCE P.
OwnerGRAPHIC PACKAGING INT